Best Films From Each Decade (1930s-2020s)
Recently saw someone ask people what their 3 favorite films from each decade were. But under these categories: Best Picture Winner, Non-Winning Best Picture Nominee, and Non-Best Picture Nominee. I thought I’d weigh in with my personal favorites within these categories, and other films that top my list.
1930's
Best Picture Winner: Gone with the Wind (1939)
Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell follows the life of Scarlett O’Hara in the ‘Old South,’ during the Civil War. It has long been a controversial story, as it includes racial topics and language, but is also portrayed from the point of view of the privileged plantation owner. The confusing, emotional, brilliance of this historical romance piece, is what makes it my favorite Best Picture Winner of the 1930s.
Non-Winning Best Picture Nominee: The Wizard of Oz (1939)
The Wizard of Oz is notorious for its pioneering use of technicolor, and memorable musical score. The film was originally directed by Victor Fleming before he left production to take over, none other than, Gone with the Wind. Had The Wizard of Oz been released in another year, maybe it could’ve had its shot as the Best Picture winner. Regardless, it's still one of the most well-known films ever made.
Honorable Mentions: Of Mice and Men (1939), Wuthering Heights (1939)
Non-Best Picture Nominee: M (1931)
Think The Silence of the Lambs meets It. M follows child serial killer Hans Beckert, played by Peter Lorre. I always love a film that can make you sympathize with the devil, and M does just that. This could be in part due to Lorre’s brilliant acting, or Fritz Lang’s shocking directing. One thing is certain, M paved the way for serial killer films for decades to come.
Honorable Mentions: Bringing Up Baby (1938), Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937), The Women (1939), The Public Enemy (1931)
1940's
Best Picture Winner: Casablanca (1942)
Casablanca consistently ranks near the top of any “greatest films of all time” list, and for good reason. It’s a romantic drama film that takes place during WWII. Casablanca portrays the strain of love and duty and is sure to tug at all the heartstrings. “Here’s looking at you, kid”
Non-Winning Best Picture Nominee: It's a Wonderful Life (1946)
Frank Capra’s, It’s a Wonderful Life, is one of my favorite films of all time. The film follows the ups and downs in the life of George Bailey, played by James Stewart. George Bailey has spent his whole life sacrificing his dreams to help family, friends, and strangers, and is now facing suicidal thoughts on Christmas Eve. With the help of his guardian angel Clarence Odbody, George is shown all the lives he’s touched and changed. This emotionally inspirational film is a grand reminder, that it truly is, a wonderful life.
Honorable Mentions: Citizen Cane (1941), The Great Dictator (1940), The Grapes of Wrath (1940), The Philadelphia Story (1940)
Non-Best Picture Nominee: Nightmare Alley (1947)
Nightmare Alley is a film noir, that follows Stanton Carlisle in a traveling carnival. Stanton gets in a bit over his head, leading to some psychological torment, which leaves a lot up for interpretation by the audience. Although, the film does have an oddly satisfying ending, with a somewhat full-circle moment. Carlisle, played by Tyrone Power, used this movie as an opportunity to prove he had more to his acting career than his looks, and he delivered.
Honorable Mention: To Be or Not To Be (1942)
1950's
Best Picture Winner: On the Waterfront (1954)
This film could be deemed the rise of Marlon Brando, as he began the cultural shift into more modern acting styles. In On The Waterfront, viewers see the moral agony that Terry Malloy (Brando) faces. Taking place in the American era of McCarthyism, tensions are instated. Viewers also get a bit of mob action in the film, which long remains Brando’s area of expertise.
Honorable Mentions: All About Eve (1950), Bridge on the River Kwai (1957)
Non-Winning Best Picture Nominee: 12 Angry Men (1957)
This entire film is a conversation between twelve jurors in a deliberation room. Only one man believes the accused to be “not guilty,” and he is on a mission to convince the other jurors why he is right. What happens next is a brilliantly written conversation of careless prejudices. This is the first film I watched where the importance of amazing dialogue stood out to me. 12 Angry Men also ranks near the top of my list of favorite films.
Honorable Mention: Sunset Boulevard (1950)
Non-Best Picture Nominee: Rebel Without a Cause (1955)
Rebel Without a Cause is about as coming-of-age drama, as a coming-of-age drama can get. This film, directed by Nicholas Ray, watched emotionally bewildered teenagers struggle in their given environments. Rebel Without a Cause is widely considered one of James Dean's most memorable performances, as he displayed a level of raw emotion by a male lead that was fairly unusual for the time. It was also released on October 27, 1955, just one month after his untimely death in a car accident on September 30, 1955. Rebel Without a Cause was said to be “culturally, historically, and aesthetically significant” according to the Library of Congress’s National Film Registry.
Honorable Mentions: The Searchers (1956), Vertigo (1958), Rear Window (1954), Some Like It Hot (1959), Ikiru (1952)
1960's
Best Picture Winner: Lawrence of Arabia (1962)
Nominated for 10 Academy Awards in 1962, Lawrence of Arabia is a film with masterful storytelling. The main character Lawrence is torn between the decision to side with the British Army or Arabian tribes during WWI. Lawrence was played by beginning actor, Peter O’Toole, who was highly praised for his brilliant opening performance. On top of all that, I have a special soft spot for the film's cinematography.
Honorable Mentions: West Side Story (1961), My Fair Lady (1964), The Sound of Music (1965)
Non-Winning Best Picture Nominee: Bonnie and Clyde (1967)
The infamous story is about Bonnie, the waitress, who falls in love with ex-con, Clyde. From there, they go on a crime spree of theft and robberies. Their crimes eventually escalate into more dangerous and violent endeavors, and that is when things get interesting. Offering viewers a wide variety of emotions and entertainment, Bonnie and Clyde contributed to cultural trends and movements in society during the ’60s, and even better… it’s based on a true story.
Honorable Mentions: Z (1969), To Kill a Mockingbird (1962)
Non-Best Picture Nominee: 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)
Widely considered the greatest film of the decade (and even all-time), Stanley Kubrick’s 2001: A Space Odyssey starts with the beginning of human existence, and finishes with the unknown of what comes after us. It touches on life, death, the universe, the pain of reality, time, and unanswerable questions about human nature. Kubrick’s creativity behind the camera redefines the craft of cinematography, and he can be highly praised for the scientific accuracy of the film (confirmed by my Geoscience professor). But the most shocking part of this movie, is undeniably, the fact that it was not nominated for best picture at the Acadamy Awards. And of course, we can’t forget about HAL.
Honorable Mentions: Psycho (1960), 8 1/2 (1963)
1970's
Best Picture Winner: The Godfather (1972)
Now, it is widely known that The Godfather trilogy is a cinematic masterpiece, but many argue whether The Godfather or The Godfather Part II is the better film. I have decided to place the first film as my number one for one reason: Marlon Brando. His performance as Don Vito Corleone is just plain iconic and moves The Godfather up to the number one spot. Since I’m crediting Brando so much, let me mention a few others of this star-studded cast: Al Pacino, James Caan, Robert Duvall, Diane Keaton, John Marley, and Sterling Hayden. Lastly, there are few stories in cinema as interesting to watch as the American-Italian Mob and The Godfather films solidified director Francis Coppola as “The Godfather of Hollywood” himself.
Honorable Mentions: The Godfather Part II (1974), Rocky (1976), Kramer vs. Kramer (1979)
Non-Winning Best Picture Nominee: Taxi Driver (1976)
A Martin Scorsese film, featuring Robert De Niro is set up for success. Taxi Driver takes place in NYC during the summer of 1975, touching on -then-current-day issues, such as psychological traumas from factors such as the Vietnam War. Watch De Niro’s character, Travis Bickle, slowly crumble during his working nights in NYC.
Honorable Mentions: A Clockwork Orange (1971), Cabaret (1972), The Exorcist (1973), Jaws (1975), Network (1976), All the President’s Men (1976), Star Wars (1977)
Non-Best Picture Nominee: Alien (1979)
Alien was a pioneering film for special effects and is still considered one of the greatest sci-fi horror films of all time. While it received mixed reviews when it was first released, in recent decades it has been highly praised, proving it to be ahead of its time. Also, Alien was directed by Ridley Scott, who is a notorious sci-fi and horror filmmaker.
Honorable Mentions: The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974), Blazing Saddles (1974)
1980's
Best Picture Winner: Rain Man (1988)
Dustin Hoffman and Tom Cruise still receive high praise for their acting in Rain Man to this date. Charlie Babbitt (Crusie) learns his father has died and left his multimillion-dollar estate to his other son, Raymond (Hoffman). Charlie was completely unaware that Raymond even existed, and shortly learns that he has autism, and the film was also highly praised for its portrayal of autism.
Honorable Mentions: Ordinary People (1980), Platoon (1986), Amadeus (1984), Terms of Endearment (1983)
Non-Winning Best Picture Nominee: Dead Poets Society (1989)
Now, this spot had a couple of great contenders, but I’m giving it to a personal favorite movie of mine, Dead Poets Society. Robin Williams stars as the quirky English teacher at a prestigious East Coast boarding school, where he inspires young men through the art of poetry. It’s a beautiful story about unconventionality and doing what you love in life. The wholesome plot does take a turn though, but that’s ultimately what makes this film so memorable. “No matter what anybody tells you, words and ideas can change the world.”
Honorable Mentions: Raging Bull (1980), E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982), The Right Stuff (1983)
Non-Best Picture Nominee: Ferris Bueller’s Day Off (1986)
This one took some debating alongside Back to the Future, but once again, I just had to go with a personal favorite of mine, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off. This movie is the epitome of a feel-good film. Ferris Bueller teaches audiences the importance of enjoying one’s life, and not taking things too seriously, a lesson we all need to remember now and then. This comedy classic incorporates everything that people love about the 80s. “Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.”
Honorable Mentions: Back to the Future (1985), Do the Right Thing (1989), The Shining (1980)
1990's
Best Picture Winner: Forrest Gump (1994)
Forrest Gump is among my top three favorite films of all time, and for good reason. For starters, I consider it one of Tom Hanks’ best performances of his career, and that is truly a bold statement looking at his track record. Secondly, the brilliance of intertwining one selfless man's life with major historical events throughout the twentieth century falls nothing short of flawless. Forrest Gump himself will pull on every heartstring in your chest, making you laugh, cry, and smile in awe. At the very least, this film is a history lesson for amateurs. I would love to insert a quote from the film here, but there are simply too many to choose from.
Honorable Mentions: Schindler’s List (1993), The Silence of the Lambs (1991), Titanic (1997)
Non-Winning Best Picture Nominee: Good Will Hunting (1997)
This category was also one of the hardest to choose from because this was a phenomenal era of filmmaking, so my apologies to the honorable mentions (specifically Pulp Fiction). But what makes Good Will Hunting the most impressive, is that it was written by two inexperienced college friends, Matt Damon and Ben Affleck, who also starred in the film alongside Robin Williams. The film follows a brilliant young mathematician who is trying to navigate a normal life, torn between the two paths he can take. The film perfectly blends drama, humor, and realism to deliver a magnificent thought-provoking story for audiences to relate to. It is also the origin of the long-lasting relationship between Ben Affleck and Dunkin Donuts.
Honorable Mentions: Pulp Fiction (1994), The Shawshank Redemption (1994), Goodfellas (1990), Saving Private Ryan (1998)
Non-Best Picture Nominee: Se7en (Seven) (1995)
Envy, gluttony, greed, lust, pride, sloth, wrath: The Seven Deadly Sins. That is the premise of the movie Se7en. Brad Pitt and Morgan Freeman star as the detectives trying to hunt down a New York City serial killer preying on people who have committed one of the seven deadly sins. A film not for the faint of heart, it is notoriously one of the darkest works in Hollywood cinema. Se7en’s reputation and genius are what have landed it rightfully in this spot, and it will have you asking “What’s in the box?”
Honorable Mentions: The Usual Suspects (1995), Fight Club (1999), The Truman Show (1998)
2000's
Best Picture Winner: The Departed (2006)
The Departed is widely considered the greatest crime drama to ever exist, and that argument could be made by only mentioning that it was directed by Martin Scorsese and stars; Matt Damon, Leonardo DiCaprio, Martin Sheen, Jack Nicholson, and Mark Wahlberg. With brilliant dialogue and never-ending tension, this thriller keeps viewers guessing up until the very end. Power, loyalty, and betrayal: Some of the best themes to incorporate into any great story.
Honorable Mentions: No Country for Old Men (2007), The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003), Million Dollar Baby (2004)
Non-Winning Best Picture Nominee: Inglourious Basterds (2009)
The opening 20-minute-long scene of Inglourious Basterds is some of my favorite dialogue in a film, which should be no surprise considering it is a Quentin Tarantino film. Taking place during WWII, the movie follows multiple storylines of characters either with or against the Nazis, that eventually interweave together. In true Tarantino fashion, audiences are blessed with excessive and colorful scenes of violence, and don’t forget about the witty sarcasm that consistently prevails throughout.
Honorable Mentions: The Pianist (2002), Lost in Translation (2003), Brokeback Mountain (2005), Up (2009), The Blind Side (2009)
Non-Best Picture Nominee: The Dark Knight (2008)
The Dark Knight is essentially an ode to Heath Ledger, as that's how impactful his performance subsequently was. While Heath Ledger may have stolen the screen, he wasn’t the only contributing factor to the greatness of this film. Despite being a “superhero” movie and the sequel to Batman Begins, I wouldn’t necessarily say this film is directed at younger audiences. The sadistic tone of the movie seems to be one of the few criticisms it’s faced. But in my opinion, that's what makes the movie shine. The performances by Christian Bale, Aaron Eckhart, Michael Caine, and of course, Heath Ledger, tied with the brilliant writing keep audiences engulfed from start to end. Lastly, any film directed by Christopher Nolan is guaranteed to have a complex storyline, incorporated with beautiful cinematography, and chilling soundtracks.
Honorable Mentions: Mulholland Drive (2001), Catch Me If You Can (2002), Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004), Memento (2000)
2010's
Best Picture Winner: Parasite (2019)
When I first sat down to watch Parasite, I had heard how amazing it was, but I honestly had no idea what to expect. When the film ended, my jaw was obviously on the floor and I finally understood why it was being considered one of the greatest thrillers of all time. It’s just that good. Parasite is a Korean film directed by Bong Joon-ho, who was also a contributing writer and producer. It begins by following the interactions of two families with opposing socioeconomic statuses, which eventually takes a daring and dramatic turn.
Described by its creator as “a comedy without clowns, a tragedy without villains”, Parasite is more Shakespearean than Hitchockian. — The Guardian
Honorable Mentions: Argo (2012), 12 Years a Slave (2013), Birdman (2014), Moonlight (2016)
Non-Winning Best Picture Nominee: Black Swan (2010)
By now I’m sure you can tell that I do personally tend to favorite films that fall in the psychological thriller category, and Black Swan is a psychological horror thriller about dedicating your life to a performance and sacrificing your sanity in the process. Natalie Portman starred as the lead in the film and earned the Academy Award for Best Actress because of her grand performance. The film follows Nina (Portman) as she pushes herself to perfect the role of the white swan and the black swan in an adaptation of Tchaikovsky’s ballet “Swan Lake” at a competitive New York ballet company. Black Swan is a dark portrayal of battling the good and evil in oneself, presented through passionate storytelling.
Honorable Mentions: The Social Network (2010), Silver Linings Playbook (2012), Django Unchained (2012), The Wolf of Wall Street (2013), The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014), Whiplash (2014), La La Land (2016), Manchester by the Sea (2016), Little Women (2019), Hidden Figures (2016)
Non-Best Picture Nominee: Interstellar (2014)
Where do I begin to describe the magnificence of my favorite movie of all time? Let’s start with the cast; Matthew McConaughey, Anne Hathaway, Jessica Chastain, Matt Damon, John Lithgow, Wes Bentley, Casey Affleck, Ellen Burstyn, Michael Caine, and even talented child actors; Mackenzie Foy and Timothée Chalamet. Continually, Hans Zimmer composes probably the greatest movie soundtrack of all time. It gives me chills every time I watch, without fail. Director Christopher Nolan creates an intellectual, thought-provoking sci-fi set in a near-future world. The story is driven by curiosity, grief, passion, and regret, as a man is torn between saving humanity and a life with his family. This masterpiece is sure to have you watching the end credits in tears. And to close out this entry, I’m including my favorite quote from the film: “Love is the one thing we’re capable of perceiving that transcends dimensions of time and space.”
Honorable Mentions: Knives Out (2019), Blade Runner 2049 (2017)
Special Edition: Oppenheimer (2023), Barbie (2023)
Now, I know that these two films don’t fit into any of the categories, but I felt that they deserved a place amongst the greats because I do not doubt that both films will have a huge involvement during the Acadamy Awards this coming March. There are so many factors that contributed to the success of Oppenheimer and Barbie, whether it’s the directors; Christopher Nolan and Greta Gerwig, or the acknowledgment that practically half of Hollywood was cast in the two films combined, there is no denying the impact that has already been made on cinema and the world just mear months after their release. “Barbenhiemer” hatched a cultural movement fixed on two generation-defining films, forever engraving their imprint in the industry. Their performance at this year's coming Oscars is sure to reflect that notion, which is why I felt they should be included on this page.
